A TREELEAF EXPERIMENT: Three Sacred Sentences (Please Join Poll)

[Seikan]

I agree that it is a difficult policy to enforce across all areas of the forum, and therefore we end up with too many exceptions to the rule. That said, I do think it is a very worthwhile practice to employ from time to time. Perhaps we can choose to enforce it for only a week at time at certain times of year (around certain holidays or other events?).

I could also see it being something we could each choose to do as an individual practice at certain times of year (Ango, etc.).

Gassho,
Rob

-st-


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[Onka]

SO disappointing. And 'several voices' do not a democratic decision make so perhaps there should be a poll?
Gassho
Meitou
sattoday lah

Polls are hardly democratic and only serve to isolate and silence. Consensus is the only truly democratic process however just because practice has been reversed doesn't mean those of us who liked it can't continue. I'd also surmise that consensus was reached by the Priests and Unsui who are definitely trusted voices. Jundo has no duty to consult us on things like this. If we feel particularly strongly we can advocate for a reversal on the reversal which was a reversal on the original short term trial.
Gassho
Onka
ST

[Meitou]

UPDATE: PLAN DROPPED

Dear All,

Last minute, I have been persuaded by several voices that I trust that the "Three Sentences" policy should be dropped. So, we will not be moving forward with this because of the feelings expressed. Perhaps it can be revived from time to time as a practice, but not as a standing request. The feeling seems to be that it would just be too restrictive on the ability of people to communicate.

I have to say that I still disagree, but I also believe in going along with consensus and popular feeling in the Sangha about how we structure things. In my view, a Zen group is a place where we earnestly try to drop words, ideas and complex analysis, and the "three sacred sentences" were helping us do so. It did not completely prevent us from saying more when needed, because we could just put a "sorry, needed to say more this time" at the end (just as I am going to do with this post). Even if it sometimes caused long sentences with too many colons ";" (and parenthesis) it nonetheless caused us to reflect on what is truly necessary to say, and not take our thoughts lightly (and was not to apply in our "no words" book club, art circle, Precept discussion for Jukai and the like where some depth of thought and words is more welcome). On the other hand, others felt that it is too forceful, and a simple reminder from time to time would be better.

I felt it was really an effective practice for us, but I also believe in democracy. So, unless there is suddenly a flood of voices the other way who feel that the experiment should be kept, the plan is shelved, perhaps to be revived as a short-term practice from time to time.

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH

(sorry, needed more than three sentences this time)

SO disappointing. And 'several voices' do not a democratic decision make so perhaps there should be a poll?
Gassho
Meitou
sattoday lah

[Jundo]

UPDATE: PLAN DROPPED

Dear All,

Last minute, I have been persuaded by several voices that I trust that the "Three Sentences" policy should be dropped. So, we will not be moving forward with this because of the feelings expressed. Perhaps it can be revived from time to time as a practice, but not as a standing request. The feeling seems to be that it would just be too restrictive on the ability of people to communicate.

I have to say that I still disagree, but I also believe in going along with consensus and popular feeling in the Sangha about how we structure things. In my view, a Zen group is a place where we earnestly try to drop words, ideas and complex analysis, and the "three sacred sentences" were helping us do so. It did not completely prevent us from saying more when needed, because we could just put a "sorry, needed to say more this time" at the end (just as I am going to do with this post). Even if it sometimes caused long sentences with too many colons ";" (and parenthesis) it nonetheless caused us to reflect on what is truly necessary to say, and not take our thoughts lightly (and was not to apply in our "no words" book club, art circle, Precept discussion for Jukai and the like where some depth of thought and words is more welcome). On the other hand, others felt that it is too forceful, and a simple reminder from time to time would be better.

I felt it was really an effective practice for us, but I also believe in democracy. So, unless there is suddenly a flood of voices the other way who feel that the experiment should be kept, the plan is shelved, perhaps to be revived as a short-term practice from time to time.

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH

(sorry, needed more than three sentences this time)

[A.J.]

Understood and try to be brief:

Little puppy asleep at my feet teaches effortlessly how to stay in the moment and live life to its fullest.So happy to have him but also terribly miss my old boy Jack.

Gassho
Teiro

sat

Andrew,

Satlah

[Teiro]

Understood and try to be brief:

Little puppy asleep at my feet teaches effortlessly how to stay in the moment and live life to its fullest.So happy to have him but also terribly miss my old boy Jack.

Gassho
Teiro

sat

[Doshin]

I like this and will continue to honor.

Have noticed use of longer sentences, lots of colons and semicolons being creativity used.

Doshin
St

[Soka]

This experiment immediately reminded me of the sentiment: I didn’t have time to write you a short letter, so I wrote you a long one (more info here https://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/0...horter-letter/).
I don't usually say much anyway.

Phill
(sat/lah)

[Meitou]

Dear All,

Unless there are any last comments (hopefully in three sentences or less ), I am going to post this as a rule for our place.

There will be exceptions (such as the "no words" book club, the art circle, and our Precept reflections for Jukai).

Also, if someone truly needs to say something with more words, it is fine ... although we will make it a habit to put a little apology at the end the post.

Gassho, J

STLah

Thank you Jundo. Time to check those egos!
Gassho
Meitou
Sattoday lah

[Tairin]

I am going to post this as a rule for our place.

Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Jundo]

Dear All,

Unless there are any last comments (hopefully in three sentences or less ), I am going to post this as a rule for our place.

There will be exceptions (such as the "no words" book club, the art circle, and our Precept reflections for Jukai).

Also, if someone truly needs to say something with more words, it is fine ... although we will make it a habit to put a little apology at the end the post.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Tairin]

Some ideas cant be properly coveyed with three hundred sentances. Some ideas can be conveyed without a single word. Transmition flower.
Gassho
David
Sat

Tairin
Sat today and lah

[serenewolf]

Some ideas cant be properly coveyed with three hundred sentances. Some ideas can be conveyed without a single word. Transmition flower.
Gassho
David
Sat

[Tomás ESP]

Three is my favorite number, sounds like a great idea.

Gassho, Tomás

Sat&LaH

[Gareth]

New three sentence rule
Some can do it, no problem!
Gassho, zazen sound!